The rain that poured out of the skies of Miyagi was only matched by the flood in a nearby television studio.

Japan was a nation fed on a diet of over-expectation after untroubled progress through the group stages and into the last 16 of a tournament they have embraced with increasing fervour.

Coach Philippe Troussier attempted to dampen expectation by warning that Japan only had a 50-50 chance of beating talented Turkey to achieve the unlikely feat of reaching a quarter-final against Senegal.